Improvement in pocket-books



. I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H'. L. HOPKINS.

Pooket-Books.

No. 214,823. Patented April 29, 1879..

NJ ETERS. PHOTOLITFIOGRAPFER WASHLNGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H ABJVEY L. HOPKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.'2l4,s 2 3, dated April 29, 1879; application filed February 26. 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY L. HOPKINS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Books; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to pocket-books and coin-purses more especially intended for the use of ladies.

The custom has become prevalent for ladies while shopping to carry their pocket-book or purse in the hand.

It is the purpose of the present invention to protect ladies against the depredations of snatch-thieves, and also to provide against the loss of a pocket-book by its being left on a store-counter or in a street-car.

The invention consists in a device or devices by which a pocket-book or purse may be fastened securely to the hand, which devices will be fully explained in the ensuing specification, and set forth in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a pocket-book secured to a hand by means of my safety device, the flap in this instance opening toward the thumb. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the arrangement of the straps when the flap opens back toward the wrist. 3 is a perspective view, showing one of the straps arranged as a handle, showing also the position of the other strap when the book is to be secured inside the hand- Fig. 4 is 1- perspective view, showing theleepsin the back piece shown in Fig. 3. The same letters of reference are used in all the figures in the designation of identical parts. The pocketbook A may be of any preferred size or shape. B is a piece of leather, of suitable size, designed to be sewed or otherwise firmly secured to the back of a pocket-book. This supplemental piece B has secured to its respective ends the straps O and D, intended the former to fit the wrist, and the latter to fit around the hand just back of the knuckles. These straps I prefer to make of leather, providin g a buckle at one end for fastening. They may, however, be made of elastic web, gold chains, or other suitable material, provided the main object of security is attained.

It will be seen that the straps G and D may be fastened directly to the back of the pocketbook instead of to the supplemental piece B; but I prefer to use this piece in every instance, as otherwise the book would be apt to become warped and shaped to the back of the hand.

The straps may be arranged so that the book, when worn on the back of the hand, will open either lengthwise thereof, the flap opening toward the thumb, or crosswise, the flap turning back on the wrist. I prefer the lengthwise arrangement, for the reason that should the book he accidentally left open the user would be less likely by any natural movement of the hand to hold the mouth of the book downward so that the contents could drop out.

It is obvious that an" ordinary pocket-bool may, after completion, be provided with thi: safety device by havingsecured thereto eithe: the supplemental piece B, carrying the strap; 0 and D, or the straps themselves.

One of the-straps, G or D, may be omitted or one or.1nore straps added, and their loca tion and position in relation to the book ma; be changed indefinitely (provided the flapi left free to open without removing either th book or straps from the hand) without depari ing from the principles of my invention.

The book may be arranged to be worn in side the hand, if preferred.

Instead of asingle strap going entirely rouni the hand near the knuckles, one or more shoi' straps may be used for separately encirclin, one or more fingers when worn either on th back or inside of the hand.

Instead of the back piece B, separate loop may be used in which to insert the straps 4 and D.

The supplemental back piece B may be made as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with loops extend ing across its ends, and others arranged diag onally, so that the same book may be secure in almost any position on or within the ham by simply changing the position of the strap:

Iioops may also be arranged at the top of the book, in which one of the straps may be inserted in the manner of a handle, as shown.

It is evident that instead of using straps for securing a-p'ocket-book or purse, it may be attached directly to a glove or mitten.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. A pocketbook constructed with adjusta; ble straps, which provide for t cu atf .chment of its back to the hand, leaving the opening side unobstructed, and also admit of it's ready detachment in its closed condition, all substantially as before set forth.

HARVEY Tl. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. ROBERTSON, EDGAR M. WILsoN. 

